How to Treat Acne
What is acne?
Acne occurs when dead skin cells clog the skin’s sebaceous glands, often contributing to increased breakouts, redness and oiliness. Our new line of skincare available in the boutique—CosMedix—addresses this problem through detoxification and by targeting inflammation and oil production. Usually the result of hormonal activity, stress and/or poor dietary habits, acne occurs when dead skin cells aren’t properly shed and clog the skin’s sebaceous glands (natural oil-producing glands). Characterized by excessive blemishing, redness and/or oiliness, acne often first appears during adolescence, yet can continue and reappear later in life. In addition to traditional treatments and antibiotics —which can be toxic to the system— harsh chemical ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate and benzoyl peroxide can worsen this condition and spark rebound breakouts. CosMedix addresses this concern with soothing, natural ingredients designed to eliminate toxins and target inflammation and excess oil production.
Acne Myths
There are a few myths out there about what causes acne. Acne isn’t caused by eating greasy foods like french fries or pizza, chomping on chocolate or drinking sodas. Some people do find that they notice their breakouts get more severe when they eat too much of a certain food, though. If you’re one of them, it’s worth cutting back on that food item to see what happens. Stress doesn’t usually cause acne either, although it can make existing acne worse because stress increases sebum production. There are also myths about what makes acne better. Acne isn’t really helped by the sun. Although a tan can temporarily make acne look less severe, it won’t help it go away permanently — and some people find that the oils their skin produces after being in the sun make their pimples worse
Helpful Tips
1. Wash your face twice a day with warm water and a mild soap made for people with acne. Gently massage your face with circular motions. Do not scrub.
2. Don’t pop pimples. It’s tempting, but popping can push infected material further into the skin, leading to more swelling and redness and even scarring.
3. Avoid touching your face with your fingers or leaning your face on objects that collect sebum and skin residue like the telephone receiver. Touching your face can spread the bacteria that cause pores to become inflamed and irritated. Wash your hands before applying anything to your face.
4. Keep them clean. If you wear glasses or sunglasses, make sure you clean them frequently to keep oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.
5. Remove your makeup before you go to sleep. When buying makeup, make sure you choose brands that say “noncomedogenic” or “nonacnegenic” on the label. Throw away old makeup that smells or looks different from when you first bought it.
6. Keep hair clean and out of your face to prevent additional dirt and oil from clogging your pores.
7. Protect your skin from the sun. It may seem like a tan masks acne, but it’s only temporary. A tan can cause the body to produce extra sebum, which may worsen your acne. Tanning also causes damage to skin that will eventually lead to wrinkles and increase your risk of skin cancer.
8. Schedule your facials every four to six weeks. During these facials, the esthetician can remove any impurities—such as whiteheads and blackheads—and provide education on properly taking care of your skin type.